Ebonyi State, Nigeria – September 2026

The Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN-Nigeria), Ebonyi State Chapter, has strengthened its efforts to prevent child early marriage and domestic servitude through a two-day Life Skills and Community Protection Training held in Ezza-Inyimagu Community, Izzi LGA, and Ekawoke Community, Ikwo LGA, Ebonyi State.

The intervention forms part of AFJN-Nigeria's broader Economic Empowerment and Child Protection Programme, which seeks to equip vulnerable adolescents with practical life skills, strengthen community protection systems, and address the social and economic factors that expose children to early marriage and domestic servitude

Ezza-Inyimagu Community Training

The training in Ezza-Inyimagu was held from 10–11 September 2026 at Izziogo, Ezza-Inyimagu, with 30 participants drawn from nine villages within the community: Oswanka, Obeagu-Itumo, Ndiokoro, Efunagu, Izziogo, Ndiofutu, Uwalagbegwu, Nduibokote and Ishiafia.

The training provided participants with practical knowledge and skills around personal development, decision-making, communication, safeguarding, recognizing risks, seeking help, positive relationships, resilience, financial awareness and planning for a safer future.

Ekawoke Community Training

A similar intervention was conducted at Ezeke, Ekawoke Autonomous Community, Ikwo LGA, covering participants from Ezeke, Ndufu-Umuta, Aguinyima, Echaraukwu and Ndiagu-Umuta villages.

The training brought together 30 adolescent girls, while 10 trained Community Monitoring Group members participated as observers to support identification of protection concerns and appropriate referral pathways.

The participation of the Community Monitoring Group reinforced the link between adolescent empowerment and the community protection system established through the AFJN-Nigeria intervention

Traditional Institution Reaffirms Commitment to Child Protection

The Ekawoke training was further strengthened by the presence of the Traditional Ruler of Ekawoke Autonomous Community, HRH Eze Oliva Eze, who joined the programme and interacted with the adolescents and AFJN-Nigeria team.

In his remarks, the Traditional Ruler appreciated AFJN-Nigeria for the partnership and continued engagement with the community. He disclosed that early marriage and domestic servitude have been incorporated into the community's bye-laws, demonstrating the community's commitment to preventing harmful practices.

He further noted that the community is committed to ensuring that no child leaves the community without appropriate documentation through the community's MOU Register, strengthening accountability and community-level monitoring.

His Royal Highness reaffirmed the community's readiness and commitment to working with AFJN-Nigeria to end child early marriage and domestic servitude.

As part of the traditional welcome and blessing, the Traditional Ruler blessed the participating adolescents and AFJN-Nigeria, with kola nut presented in accordance with community tradition.

He also used the occasion to officially flag off the Skills Empowerment Programme, comprising Life Skills and Economic Empowerment Training, aimed at providing vulnerable adolescents and young people with knowledge and practical opportunities that can contribute to safer and more sustainable futures.

Building Skills and Strengthening Protection

The intervention demonstrates AFJN-Nigeria's approach of combining adolescent empowerment with community-led child protection. While adolescents are equipped with knowledge and life skills to make informed and safer choices, trained community monitoring groups and community leaders are being strengthened to identify risks, support safe reporting and facilitate appropriate referrals.

The programme also recognizes that preventing child early marriage and domestic servitude requires more than awareness. It requires communities to address the underlying social and economic vulnerabilities that place children at risk.

Through continued collaboration with traditional institutions, community leaders, faith actors, trained monitoring groups and other stakeholders, AFJN-Nigeria is working to promote communities where children can grow in safety, dignity, confidence and opportunity.

AFJN-Nigeria's Commitment

AFJN-Nigeria appreciates the traditional leadership, community stakeholders, adolescents, Community Monitoring Groups and all partners who contributed to the successful implementation of the training.

The organization remains committed to strengthening community ownership, safeguarding, social norms transformation, life-skills development, economic empowerment and referral mechanisms as part of its continuing efforts to end child early marriage and domestic servitude in Ebonyi State.

Reporter: Chief Peter Ewah -Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN-Nigeria)
Ebonyi State Chapter

Empowering Communities. Protecting Children. Building Safer Futures.